Apps can boost functionality, but they can also slow stores down or complicate checkout.
Which apps have genuinely helped your conversions and which ones did you remove? Curious to hear real experiences.
Flow, Email, Search and discovery are the apps which help the store the most and most app found on shopify app store can be removed from the store since we can just custom code it, there are tons of free tutorial on the yourtube and multiple git repo to use.
Hey @pere01
This is such an important question because app bloat is one of the biggest silent killers of Shopify stores. Let me break down what actually helps versus what just adds weight.
Apps that genuinely boost conversions:
Reviews apps like Judge.me or Loox are absolute must-haves. Customer reviews with photos provide social proof that directly impacts purchase decisions. I’ve seen conversion rates jump 20-30% just from adding visible reviews to product pages. This is non-negotiable for most stores.
Email marketing apps like Klaviyo recover abandoned carts and drive repeat purchases. The abandoned cart recovery alone typically pays for itself many times over since you’re bringing back people who already showed buying intent. This is basically free money from traffic you already paid for.
Cart optimization apps like iCart make a real difference to average order value. Relevant upsells, progress bars for free shipping, and smart product recommendations in the cart can increase order value by 15-30% without needing more traffic. The key is it needs to be genuinely relevant suggestions, not random products.
Apps that often hurt more than help:
Multiple popup apps are conversion killers. If you have three different popups fighting for attention - email capture, exit intent, discount offer - you’re annoying people more than converting them. Pick one well-timed popup or just use Shopify’s built-in email capture.
Countdown timer apps that aren’t tied to real urgency feel manipulative. If your “sale ends in 2 hours” timer resets every day, customers notice and trust drops. Fake urgency backfires.
Excessive social proof apps showing “John from Texas just bought this” notifications constantly are annoying and often feel fake. A little goes a long way - too much makes people suspicious.
Page builder apps can be useful but often add tons of code that slows your site dramatically. If you’re using a page builder just to avoid learning basic theme customization, you’re probably hurting performance for minimal gain.
Currency converters when you already have Shopify Markets enabled. You’re duplicating functionality and adding unnecessary code.
Shopify apps can increase conversions if they provide real value, but too many apps can negatively impact speed and the checkout flow. It’s all about balance - only use what you need. For privacy and consent without sacrificing conversions, Ketch is a lightweight, performance-friendly option to consider.